Late bargains for Everton?

The heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool, twinned with the recent injuries to Brian Oviedo and Romelu Lukaku, means that things aren’t looking too rosy at this precise moment in Everton’s otherwise excellent season. But there are reasons to be cheerful.

Barkley – back in action and exactly what Everton need to get them through the tougher games left this season. His lack of match fitness showed last night and he wasn’t at his best. But earlier January speculation about Barkley potentially leaving the club in this window has dissolved as Roberto Martinez has his stated intention to keep the player.

Martinez – We have already discovered that Roberto Martinez is a keen and canny operator in the loan market. He’s the sort of guy that you would want to negotiate for your club in these circumstances at the end of a window. But he’s going to have to be particularly smart to bring in new faces with so little time left in January. But the new injuries mean that Everton could be particularly active in the last few days of the transfer window.

Available bargains

Ravel Morrison: We can’t understand why he hasn’t been courted by bigger clubs in January. Perhaps there are still question marks over his temperament. But you certainly can’t doubt the quality of the player. Morrison has been a revelation over the last year and he really does look like a classy performer. Could add pace and cutting edge to Everton’s counter-attacks – particularly away from home. Everton are third favourites with SkyBet for his signature this month.